Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Courts And Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Strafford County OKs lease amendment with New Hampshire Superior Court as probate prepares to move
Summary
The County Commissioners unanimously approved a lease amendment with the New Hampshire Superior Court that includes a 3% annual rent increase starting July 1 and a four-year extension for the upstairs space; officials said the Probate Court’s move to Rochester, projected for October or November, will inconvenience some residents.
Strafford County Commissioners unanimously approved a lease amendment with the New Hampshire Superior Court that extends the county’s upstairs lease for four years and imposes a 3% annual rent increase starting July 1. The board voted to adopt the change after county counsel described the negotiated terms.
County counsel Mr. Baron explained the amendment’s financial terms, saying: "there'll be a 3% increase which will start July 1st and be for the upstairs for 4 years." The commissioners discussed the practical effects of the Superior Court’s broader facility moves and the anticipated relocation of Probate Court operations to Rochester, which staff said could occur in October but might slip into November.
The chair said the shift will create inconvenience for some members of the public who now walk across the hall to register property after probate hearings, and that the county will need to adjust revenue planning for 2027 to account for a potential short-term loss. Commissioners noted the county’s interest in keeping court tenants in the building and that raising rent too high could prompt construction elsewhere and leave the county with unused space.
The motion to approve the lease amendment was made and seconded; Mr. Bowden then confirmed there were no further comments and the vote was unanimous.
County staff said the amended lease preserves revenue and keeps key public services located in the county facility while acknowledging expected short-term disruption during the courts’ move. The board moved on to other agenda items following the vote.
